Binding our hearts and minds to Israel

The Associated’s commitment to connecting Jews in Baltimore with Jews in Israel reaches its apex with the Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership. Ashkelon has been our sister city since 2003, and not surprisingly, the needs of the vulnerable Jews in Ashkelon are similar to the needs of vulnerable Jews in Baltimore. Our two communities have been intimately involved in planning for and meeting those needs together, both here and there. Planning in both cities happens in parallel — with committees of lay-leaders and professionals meeting once a year to determine mutual priorities.

Ties of Jewish Identity

The sister-city relationship provides a wonderful opportunity for Baltimoreans and Ashkelonim to explore Jewish identity and volunteerism together, bonding with their brothers and sisters overseas about issues of shared concern. Young Ashkelonim come to Baltimore to enjoy the variety of Jewish experiences in this diaspora. Each year, more than 1,000 Baltimoreans visit Ashkelon through The Associated, including teens and young adults, as part of a leadership development program.

About Ashkelon

Ashkelon is a coastal city with almost 8 miles of beautiful beaches on the Mediterranean Sea, 44 miles from Jerusalem and 32 miles from Tel Aviv. Ashkelon is rich with archaeological sites - you can see archaeological remains in the Ashkelon National park, in Afridar Center courtyard, and at numerous sites all over the city. Ashkelon has a number of hotels, a marina with restaurants and nightlife hotspots and a scenic clifftop promenade overlooking the sea.

With a population of 128,000 and growing, Ashkelon is a hub of Southern Israel. 40% of Ashkelon’s residents are recent immigrants from the former Soviet Union, Ethiopia, France and beyond.

Volunteer in Ashkelon

Founded in 2011, the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Volunteer Center in Ashkelon is the central address for volunteerism. The Center embodies the values of the Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership, with volunteers and professionals from both cities working alongside one another to foster community and mutual support.

Whether you are already planning a trip to Israel, or want to get involved locally, we invite you to learn more about the impact you can make through volunteering with the Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership.

Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership Allocations

Through a committee of volunteers in both Baltimore and Ashkelon, The Associated invests more than $600,000 in Ashkelon every year, with an emphasis on projects that will strengthen the bond between our communities and support Ashkelon’s most vulnerable populations.

Extreme Makeover-Ashkelon- A Joint Pilot Projects

CHAI: Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc/Ashkelon MunicipalityThis project will identify one apartment building in Ashkelon where the residents are prepared to actively participate in a “social and physical” renovation program of their building. The CHAI staff in Baltimore will educate and empower Ashkelon colleagues to facilitate this pilot project. $30,000

HaZamir Youth Choir in Ashkelon

HaZamir Choir Baltimore/HaZamir Choir InternationalThroughout its second year,15 Ashkelon teens will develop a close relationship with 30 of their peers who will participate in the HaZamir Choir in Baltimore through video conferencing, email and skype communications, and pen pals between teens in each community. The Ashkelon choir will travel to New York City to attend the 2016 International HaZamir Festival. $34,226

Jewish Club Connection

Matnas Ashkelon/Greater Baltimore JCCThe Baltimore-Ashkelon Jewish Culture Club will enable 75 Baltimore and many Ashkelon children to explore each other’s Jewish practices by sharing videos about their own holiday observances. $5,200

PJ ABC

Macks Center for Jewish Education/Jewish Volunteer Connection/Ashkelon Volunteer CenterThis project will connect families in each community who are raising young children. Through shared experiences, second language enrichment, Jewish values, volunteerism and capitalizing on the popular PJ Library and Sifriyat Pijama brands, we will enrich family life with positive Jewish identity building experiences. $12,500

Professional Consulting and Exchange to Enhance the Aquatics Program in Ashkelon

City of Ashkelon/JCC of Greater BaltimoreBill Kirkner, the JCC’s Aquatics Director, will travel to Ashkelon to consult with hotel owners and managers on pool operations best practices on behalf of the government of Ashkelon. Bill will also meet with Shai Pascal, Director of the Snapir Ashkelon Fins swim team, to create a more robust water safety programming in Israel. $4,550

Shevet Achim

Macks Center for Jewish Education/Ashkelon MunicipalityThis project, now in its second year, partners five schools in each community for a three-year twinning program between students and educators. Through shared curriculum development and relationship building, Shevet Achim is designed to enhance students’ connection to Jewish peoplehood and Israel. $56,000

Volunteams in Baltimore and Ashkelon

Jewish Volunteer Connection (JVC)/Ashkelon Volunteer CenterThrough JVC’s VolunTeam model, this project will cultivate ongoing service commitments in similar issue areas while developing a joint curriculum for discussion and learning around Jewish values that can be utilized by both communities. In addition to sharing this model with the Ashkelon community, the connections between VolunTeams will allow individuals in Baltimore and Ashkelon to get to know one another without traveling and will further demonstrate our shared commitment to civic engagement, global peoplehood and tikkun olam (repairing the world). $7,000

ELI - Israel Association for Child Protection

ELI-Israel plans to bring its renowned school-based prevention program to Ashkelon’s elementary schools in order to reach out to those children who need ELI’s services and who need to be encouraged to ask for help. The second phase of the program will provide therapeutic intervention, in collaboration with the Ashkelon municipality, to those cases identified through the schools and others previously identified through ELI’s hotline. $25,000

Ethiopian National Project (ENP)

ENP will provide Scholastic Assistance to 12,301 Ethiopian-Israeli students nationally, including 359 students in the city of Ashkelon. In line with recognition of ENP’s successes and the shared goals of both the Government of Israel and Diaspora Jewry, ENP plans to expand the program to include elementary-aged children from third grade upwards. In Ashkelon, 115 third to sixth graders and 244 high school students will benefit from ENP’s critical work. $75,000

Musical Instruments Lending Program

Ashkelon Foundation Department of Education of Ashkelon Conservatorium of MusicThis project supports the advancement of music skills for Ashkelon’s low-income children. This program offers the opportunity to learn within a formal framework; practice, develop and perform. $7,000

On The Move

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)On the Move offers a holistic response to lack of mobility among the disabled population in Ashkelon, including provision of informative and empowering workshops for people with disabilities and the cultivation of a cadre of volunteers who will accompany program participants, to support them as they travel to their destination. $24,000

Orr Shalom Ashkelon

Orr Shalom’s cluster of four therapeutic family group homes provide a supportive and therapeutic family environment for up to 38 children, age six through 18, who have been removed from their biological families due to severe physical, sexual and emotional abuse and/or neglect. $50,000

Pa’amonim

This project will serve vulnerable groups who are not able to support themselves financially, such as young couples, retirees, new immigrants, one-parent families and the “working poor.” Advice, tools and knowledge that would otherwise not be available to these vulnerable groups will be provided to help them manage their economic households more successfully and prevent them from getting into economic crisis. $18,500

Shaked Day Center

Chimes IsraelChimes Israel has been operating in Ashkelon since 2006 and provides services for 35 children with severe disabilities. This grant will support the afternoon program for children from at-risk backgrounds who need additional support following the standard day program so they can remain in a supportive and safe environment. $10,000

Supported Housing

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)The Supportive Housing Program empowers people in Ashkelon with various types of disabilities to bridge the transition of moving into their own homes. $26,500

Trauma Therapy Program for Children

The Children’s Home Neve Haroeh AshkelonThis unique therapy program provides support for 30 children suffering from trauma through animal therapy. $5,800

AMEN Teen Volunteers

Education Department of Ashkelon MunicipalityThe AMEN youth volunteerism program, which has received numerous national prizes, has made a significant impact in Ashkelon, supporting close to 10,000 teen volunteers on a regular basis. During Operation Protective Edge, these teens supported all of the Ashkelon shelters. $61,800

Hineni

Hineni is a program for young families of Ethiopian origin who grew up in the Ashkelon community and decided to empower and strengthen the Ethiopian community and integrate it optimally into Israeli society with respect and connection to its unique culture and traditions. $10,125

Hoops for Kids Ashkelon

Ashkelon Foundation Elitzur Ashkelon Sports DepartmentThis program supports at-risk children and families in Ashkelon through regular basketball programs, community involvement and mentoring. $10,000

Israel Lacrosse Ashkelon

The Israel Lacrosse Association has built a successful track record using the sport of lacrosse to contribute to the social, emotional and physical development of Ashkelon’s disenfranchised youth. In addition, it uses the sport to teach life skills and English. This model has been successful in creating a strong and vibrant lacrosse community, an inclusive environment that welcomes all youth who can benefit from the lacrosse experience. $35,000

Ketzev: Social Entrepreneurship

Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI)Ketzev provides young social entrepreneurs with comprehensive support in business development and related services, and connects promising social businesses with funding sources, potential investors and business partners. The outcome: motivated, driven social innovators establish successful ventures that become financially stable agents of social change. Furthermore Ketzev businesses create jobs for local residents (many falling into the “at-risk” category), help young communities become less dependent on outside funding, and foster the quintessential Jewish value of tikkun olam (repairing the world), or social justice. $17,500

Make Me a Leader

Ashkelon FoundationThis program supports at-risk youth to be well-prepared for their entrance exams into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). It prepares them by providing tools in leadership development, mental challenges and physical training. An individual’s IDF placement is a crucial part of their future development as a leader and status in Israeli society. $6,000

Professional Retraining for Nurses andHi-Tech Professionals

Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI)The Barnea Professional Retraining program features Hebrew learning, professional courses, internships and preparation for Israeli medical licensing exams. By supplementing this program with enrichment activities, its success will be enhanced and young new professional olim (recent immigrants) will be given further education on the topics of Israel, Judaism and a Jewish sense of belonging. These subjects will serve them throughout their adult lives in Israel, as they develop careers, start families and face challenges. $28,299

YAAD- Diller Alumni in Ashkelon

YAAD is the alumni program in Ashkelon for graduates of the Diller Teen Fellows program. $10,000